The ship landed into the air dock with a soft thump. Lexy let go of the railing and looked at the base. Tall skyscrapers made of wood were at the center and in random areas were large pistons moving and giving off steam.

Tela came up to Lexy,

“Welcome to the sea outpost also known as the living base. Oh, hello Head captains.” Tila said when she turned to what looked to Lexy, a giant bird person, and standing next to her was the queen or C to Lexy. Both standing on the dock

Lexy turned to the two and she walked off the ship,

“hi C and hello I don’t think we have met. I’m Lexy.” When Lexy said this Varikin hopped out of her bag and climbed onto her shoulder.

Phenic put out her wing like a hand,

“Welcome and thank you for coming, Lexy and Varikin. I’m the head captain of the sea outpost, the name is Phenic and you have already met C.”

Lexy gently shook her wing,

“thank you but if I may ask what the mission is, the information I got earlier was rather vague.”

Phenic shook her head,

“not here it’s too open you never know these days, but I hear you. You will be informed properly in the morning. Come the night is falling and if we do not hurry the food will be eaten already.”

Phenic and C begin to walk toward the base. Lexy walked by Phenic who turned her head to Lexy while she was walking, “so how was the trip here?”

Lexy shrugged,

“Only one problem but it ended fine. Nobody got hurt, except for some pride.”

Phenic raised a feathered brow along with C,

“oh, really what happened?”

Lexy shrugged,

“eh just some pirates, nothing to worry about. I didn’t kill anybody if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Phenic shook her head,

“oh no, you’re fine.” C just looked in thought when Lexy asked her next question,

“So quick question, what's with the large pistons and moving gears?”

Phenic smiled,

“Ah, that is the pride and joy we have. It is a machine that moves hot air into houses and buildings. The turtle gives off warmth and we harness it to heat water that then becomes steam.”

Lexy hummed,

“Why haven’t the other bases used this?” and C perked at this “oh that’s easy, what if the base gets discovered we don’t want these new developments falling into the wrong hands because unlike the others this base can move and go underwater.”

Ley nodded,

“oh makes sense.” When she said this, the four left the docks and entered the streets while other rebels passed them carrying supplies and going about their business. Silence fell between the group until Varikin piped up,

“So is this the oldest base then?”

Phenic smirked at this,

“Actually yes, the turtle was raised by the rebellion's founder, thus why it’s so large and not afraid of people.”

Varikin tilted his head,

“So that brings another question: who was the founder of the rebellion?”

Phenic’s smile went joyous, proud, and sad all at once.

“they were female actually, and they were a beast-blooded that could turn into a white bird. They say it all started with entering the veil not just with how she says the empire was becoming corrupted. She died in battle. Her name was forgotten but not what she did.”

Lexy and Varikin see a tear slip from Phenic’s eyes and then with a sigh Phenic and C stop outside a building that instead of front doors just has a set of staircases that lead to different doors.

Phenic tossed Lexy a key,

“Your dorm is on the fourth floor of that building, I'll send Tela to fetch you in the morning. There is already food, water, and a few spare uniforms in there for you two. Night.”

Lexy cached the key and nodded,

“night.”

With that C and Phenic leave while Lexy heads up the stairs to the fourth door only to find it was locked. Lexy put the key into the lock and the door opened and she stepped into the two-room apartment.

The main room had a stove and a large device Lexy recognized as an old-styled fridge. The floor was wooden and in the middle of the room was a table with a few chairs.

Lexy turned around and locked the door,

“Ok I'm ready to sleep, do you need anything Varikin?” Varikin hopped off her shoulder and turns into his human form. “Let me see.”

He walked over to the fridge and opened it to find water and some dried meat with stale biscuits. “yea ill be fine.”

Lexy nodded and entered the other room which had two hammocks divided by a curtain. Lexy took off her mech and set it next to her hammock. She laid down on the hammock and fell asleep.

****

Lexy woke up to Varikin shaking her.

“ugh I’m up, I’m up.” She said rubbing her eyes and she got up and put on her mech,

“Is Tela here?”

Varikin shook his head,

“no but it's before sunrise and I’m hungry.”

Lexy groaned,

“Did you eat all the food in the fridge?”

Varikin gave a guilty face and whimpered a bit, while he hung his head low “maybe?”

Lexy sighed and pinched her nose,

“ugh lucky for you I have some spare food in my bag unless you ate that two?” Varikin shook his head,

“No, I didn’t eat that.”

Lexy nodded and pulled out her paper bag. She reached into it and pulled out two beef sticks. “You get one, I get one fair?”

Varikin noded,

“Ok fair.”

Lexy handed Varikin a beef stick and began eating her own. She pulled out the bubble capture potions and loaded them into her utility belt. Lexy entered the main room and sat down on the table only to hear a knock on the door.

Lexy sighed and got back up. She unlocked the door and opened it to see Tela standing there,

“a morning to you two I’ve come to get you for your mission information conference. With the two head captains.”

Lexy nodded and turned to Varikin,

“hey come on we’ve got to go.” Varikin nodded and stuffed the rest of his beef stick in his mouth. He then transformed into his ferret form and hopped onto Lexy’s shoulder.

Lexy walked out of the room and locked the door when she left and then resumed following Tela. Tela led the two through the busy streets of the outpost and eventually to a tall skyscraper in the center.

Tela led the two through the building which looked like a type of office building to Lexy. It wasn't until Tela guided them to a large meeting room and then Lexy realized this was strategic HQ.

The room had large maps of pieces on a map on the table. In the room were Phenic and C.

The two head captains turned to see Lexy. Phenic looked to Tela,

“You are dismissed.” Tela nodded and left, closing the door behind her.

Phenic turned back to Lexy and Varikin, “well with that taken care of now we can explain to you what this is all about.”

Phenic pointed to a castle pawn on the table, “that is your point of the main objective. You are to carry C with you to this point before the sun goes down. Then once you three get to this point there will be witches there let C negotiate with them and then go with C to retrieve an item from the which we are here for the soul stone.

You are not to engage in endless combat. The witches are not aware that the queen is no longer in rule. So, I do not recommend giving off any info that could jeopardize this. Do you understand?”

Lexy’s brows furrowed,

“Yes, so my job is just to get C in and out, yes?”

Phenic nodded,

“good, hand me your helmet.” Lexy did as told and watched when Phenic pulled out a long red ribbon and inserted it into the helmet.

The helmet pulled it all in and once done Phenic handed it back to Lexy.

“Your helmet will now be able to take you to those quadrants. Now C will take you to the launch pad and I wish you three the best of luck.”

Lexy and Varikin nod. The blond turned to Varikin,

“You may want to get in the bag now.” Varikin nodded,

“don’t have to tell me twice.” And with that, he hopped into Lexy’s bag.

C walked over to the exit,

“Follow me.” Lexy nodded and C led the young blond up a set of stairs that opened to a large launch pad on the roof of the building. A lot of light was hitting Lexy’s face with the smell of smoke when she got to the roof.

C puts on a vest, a necklace with a red pendant that had a rune on it, and a mech with a clip on the back. She had a line in hand with a clip on the end.

C walked up to Lexy and handed her the line with the clips on each end “this hooks up to yours and then can you hook the other end to my back. Could you hook it?”

Lexy nodded and did as told and then looked at the horizon only to see no sun “hey where is that light coming from?”

C turned her head to the mainland and pointed to it,

“It’s a curse that sets the land aflame whenever the sunsets. I assume you smelled the smoke too?”

Lexy nodded and now that her eyes adjusted, she could see even the shore was set aflame. Along with there being moving skeletal monsters, “holy cow, should we be worried about those?”

The queen shook her head,

“No, they only bother you if you get too close. alright, let’s go.”

C nodded and put her cuffs on. She pulled her black ringed cord and white wings spread from her mech with orange tips. Lexy pulled her black cord and her large purple and black wings trump C’s in size. Lexy switched her mech on and an arrow pointed to the direction she needed to go.

With that Lexy was the first to take off with C in tow and she switched the intake bar a bit. Her mech made a sharp noise and then a large boom was heard when she increased in speed.

Lexy looked at the ground that was set aflame while following the arrow. Five minutes in and the sun's first light touched the land and the fires went out. Leaving behind black charred land and large bone piles.

Four more minutes and Lexy sees a large castle-like structure that looked a bit beaten up but at the entrance to it were men and women all dressed in black suits and dresses. Lexy hummed,

“land at the front gates?”

C nodded,

“Yes, that will do.” Lexy nodded and switched her mech's magic intake back to normal. The two landed and were immediately surrounded by witches. C folded up her wings and the witches all bow or give a curtsy.

C straightened her back,

“Hello my subjects, you may rise.”

The crowd did as told and one of the witches came forward her black long curly hair flowed as she stands above the others,

“My mistress of flames, what brings you here?”

C gave an angry expression,

“I am here to get the soul stone an enemy has decided to toy with my kingdom, and I wish to show them our kingdom is a force to reckon with and not some joke.”

The witches chuckled evilly,

“oh I would love to see that, but my place is here as you know.” C tilted her head “oh and why is that Quendlin. Tell me, has something happened to Salem?”

Quendlin nodded,

“She isn’t dead just came down with sickness again. But not the point, your time is few. Come I will lead you to the stone. You remember the rules, you must leave your little guard here, my sisters know someone to keep them company.” She glanced back at her sisters.

C noded a soft frown on her face,

“very well.” Something about her tone sounded worried but Lexy glances worriedly as she watches C leave.

C walked quietly while Quendlin continued the conversation as she led C up the slope “so how are your children?” C sighed “a handful as usual my oldest is becoming more than I would have expected but that is good it means when I leave the kingdom has a strong king.”

Quendlin noded “good, good oh we are here.” With that, the two enter the castle.

******

Lexy waved shyly to the witches when they smirked,

“Oh little one, you must be the one he speaks of.”

Lexy immediately went to her father’s knife only to hear a voice she never wanted to again “That won’t be necessary.” Lexy turned on a dime to look behind her and she glared.

There standing before her was the blood king.

“Oh my, what aggression! I'm so scared. You know I find it ironic you being here with my mother. Did the rebellion really value her so little to put you as a guard? Oh well, it makes my job all the easier.” He said with amusement.

Lexy narrowed her gaze, “and what job would that be?”

The blood king gave an eerie smile to Lexy while he put a hand on a sheathed sword “Riding a thorn in my side.”

Lexy’s eyes widened and she looked to the castle. Then back to the king only to see him gone. She looked around herself only to find he was behind her.

“But as for you, I don’t think you should die today.”

Lexy leaped back,

“oh, and what did I do to earn such an honor?” spite and sarcasm in her voice.

The king shrugged. “I think you already know you just don't like the answer. You know what I'll give you an option you could kill me. Hell, I’ll let you, or I'll let you try to save the queen. If you kill me, you can take the soul stone. Isn’t that what you are here for.” he said when he pulled a white stone out.

Lexy looked from the king to the castle and smirked,

“I'd rather kill two birds with one stone.”

The king smirked and leaned forward,

“I knew you wouldn’t”

Lexy glared and began running and then turned her mech on and took off into the sky,

“Varikin, I need you ready!” She could feel some movement from her bag when she flew into the castle to see C fighting against a horde of witches,

“C! we’ve gotta get out of here!”

C turned to Lexy, her hair glowing, and her sword was a flame,

“We can't, we have to get the soul stone!”

Lexy shook her head,

“It's no use if your son has it.” C nodded and with a wave of her fiery sword the barricade of witches screech at her and fell to the ground. C walked up to Lexy,

“Do you have a plan?”

Lexy nodded,

“Do you think you can fight?”

To this C smirked,

“That's even a question.”

Lexy returned the smirk and quickly reconnected her mech to C’s,

“good.”

Lexy took off and focused on the veil while closing her eyes. She opened them and they are flying away from London’s clock tower. Lexy smiled,

“say hello and goodbye to London town!”

Lexy closed her eyes again and brought them back to reality. She opened her eyes and they were back, in reality, flying toward the king. Lexy lands and unclips C’s cord to her mech. Varikin hopped out of Lexy’s bag and turned into his giant wolf form while he stood by Lexy's side.

The king burst out laughing,

“oh this is hilarious but” he paused and his smile faded as water washed it away,

. “I'll say one more time that in the end, I will win!”

C glared and launched into battle her hair was glowing when she took off her mech. The king smirked while orange and red magic sparks flew. The witches cheered at the sight of battle in the way wolves do to wounded prey.

C jumped back and Lexy looked at the king wondering what weapon he was using. Only to see he wasn't using a traditional blade there spread from his lower back are four long black tails that at each tip they form into a weapon. Now that Lexy looks at them the tips look to be swords.

The king ran his hand through his hair and smirked,

“a fight you want mother? Very well let’s fight.”

The king launched at C and sparks flew. Lexy backed away and she turned to face the witches who to her surprise only watched with a smile on their faces when they began to chant “the traitor will pay! Down with the traitor and her treasonous ways!”

Lexy looked from them and back to C who looked like she was about to lose when suddenly her hair burst to flame and her skin began to boil and crack. The cracks glowed a bright fluorescent orange.

The king smiled,

“I wonder if you will rise from the ashes if I kill you. You and I both know you’re only half Phenix!”

The blood king pushed against C with his tails and Lexy began seeing horns emerge from his head. She rubbed her eyes and did a double-take. He did have horns.

C moved faster with her blade and even though she’s away from it Lexy can feel the heat.

“I told you before my child I will never let you keep them even if it means DEATH!”

Orange and red auroras started to come off the two and the next time they clashed a powerful gust of wind sent all staggering back when the ground crackled.

Lexy was the only one still standing while the rest of the onlookers were kneeling or trying to fight the wind from the clash of the two’s magic. Varikin was kneeling and trying to fight the wind while Lexy could only look in awe when all of C’s body was aflame.

Lexy quickly leaped back when some of the flares from the attack began to strike anything in their way.

The queen with a flash of fire two wings of flame rise from her back and the two take their battle to the skies when a set of draconic wings emerge from the king's back.

The auras increased and Lexy fell to her knees and turned to look at Varikin who was struggling far more than her.

Quickly Lexy rushed over to him and then she looked to the sky in awe when huge blasts of magic were released through the air. Lexy quickly used her mech wing to block some of the after flames from hurting Varikin and looked to the sky one last time.

To see the king unleashed another burst of speed and the queen didn't react fast enough she received a blow to the head. She falls to the ground unconscious, with a thud and her flames go out.

Lexy quickly pushed C out of the way from what would have been a fatal blow to the queen. The king immediately stops his next attack,

“I won’t let you end yourself that easy child.”

The king summoned a red portal and reached into it. He pulled out a white stone.

The king then spoke into the stone,

“yeith tcarta llahs enots siht. Lliw elliv fo serutaerc llA. esruc a ecalp doolb dna hself nwo ym htiw, gnik eht I.” he then bit into his thumb drawn blood and put it onto the stone. Hissing was heard from the stone and Lexy watched when the blood seeped into the stone.

The king looked to Lexy an eerie look in his red and black eyes. When he merely tossed Lexy the stone,

“I'm not interested in fighting you nor do I care for that stone.”

With a smirk, he turned to C “Now to finish off this thorn in my side.” He took out his sword from its hilt. Lexy’s eyes widened and she stood in front of C with her arms open,

“stop! Ill.”

She looked desperately for something to say and she looked to Varikin who only looked at her with worry and was frozen with fear.

The king raised a brow,

“Stop, well this is quite the predicament, they are a thorn in my side so you would have to give something very valuable to me. So, think of something fast.”

Thoughts buzzed through Lexy’s head she then blurted out what sounded best,

“a piece of my magic?”

Varikin looked at her with wide eyes and shook his head finally breaking out of the fear that held him back. Varikin leaped for the blood king, his teeth bared.

“Lexy no!”

The king smirked and made a smooth flick motion at Varikin, sending him back. “That will do nicely so you’re offering a small piece yes?”

Lexy nodded,

“y-yes as long as she gets to live.”

The king nods “very well little rebel I shall grant this exchange. ” Lexy scratches her arm and she shuts her eyes.

She began to focus on her magic and held a piece of it in her hands. Dark purple energy begins to form and bubble from her hands. Pain spreads from her palms and wrists, a few tears slip from her eyes.

The king watched when she struggled with her magic. He grabbed her wrist and she screamed. Suddenly a small orb that is black and purple appears between her hands and the king swiftly pulled out a knife and puts it to the small orb.

The orb dissolved into the knife and the king whispered into the knife,

“laes”

Lexy was trembling when she fell to her arms and knees. Varikin came running and leaped in front of Lexy snarling.

The king smiled,

“Thank you for your service. Little rebel.”

Varikin growled louder and the king turned to him,

“oh my, how frightening! Just kidding, calm down wolf. I’m a man of my word I will not kill my mother. I already gave the child what you came here for. In return, I got this.” He says raising the blade that was now glowing a dark purple with a rune on it.

Varikin snarls and then stops and looks at Lexy who was trembling.

The king looked to Varikin,

“Besides, I'm the least of your worries. Losing even a small piece of magic like that is very straining on someone. For her age, it could be fatal.”

Varikin curls around her protectively,

“you will not harm her. I will make sure of that.”

The king chuckled,

“until the last breath? Yes? You wolves are loyal. I find it adorable. Now I have things to tend to. I recommend getting out of here. I may not kill you today, but they might.”

Varikin watched when the king opened a portal that on the other side looked like the capital. The king walked through it and then the portal disappeared.

Varikin looked frantically from Lexy and back to C. He nudged Lexy “come on you’ve got to get up.”

Lexy wheezed out a response,

“I don’t know if I can Varikin. It hurts. My arms hurt.”

That was not the answer Varikin wanted or was hoping for. This only left one option. He must get these two out of here before things go south. Varikin turned to Lexy,

“I’m going to get you out of here.”

Lexy curled into him and could only nod.

“It's ok Varikin I love you my silly puppy and it's ok if you can’t.”

Varikin’s eyes widened and watched Lexy pass out. The fire of determination and protection filled him. He focused on Lexy’s magic and his crystal began to glow a dark purple along with his eyes.

Varikin then thought of a form something large enough to carry these two out of danger and large enough to scare away anything to wish his little handler harm. Then he knows. He knows exactly what to turn into.

With a howl a purple and blue magic swirl consumed him. Snapping of his bones could be heard when he changed shape and size. He grew by ten stories, the purple and blue swirls ended.

This revealed him to now have changed into a gigantic bird with almost a crown worth of dark purple crystals sprouting from his head. His feathers were a beautiful purple with white tips and on his underbelly, there were swirled blue and white feathers with dark purple and white-tipped ones. His left eye was blue while his other was purple. He had four feathered wings. His beak was sharp and serrated.

On Lexy’s inner arm right underneath the rebellions, a golden-colored crest formed a blue wolf symbol.

Gently he picked up Lexy, C, and placed the two onto his back. With that, he took flight, his wings blowing away onlooking witches who gaped in awe.

*****

Phenic and Tela stand on top of the building roof, on the launch pad Lexy and C left off about a few hours ago. Phenic frowned when she saw in the distance a large feathery mass.

“What is that?”

Tela hurriedly pulled out her spyglass and looked through it.

“Captain, it's them. The bird is Lexy’s wonder wolf. She and C look to be unconscious!”

Phenic’s eyes widened “quick tell the others to fetch some of our healers.” Tela nodded and tossed the spyglass to Phenic as she rushed by.

Phenic looked through the spyglass,

“holy I never in my life have seen a wonder wolf have that large of a form not sense Emelly”

Phenic backed up and put away the spyglass. She watched in awe when Varikin landed on the launch pad, his feathers glistened with the sunlight.

He laid down on the pad almost crushing Phenic and turned into his wolf form. He had an exhausted look on his face,

“help them, SAVE HER.” Varikin collapsed on the ground but was still conscious.

Phenic rushed to check Varikin’s pulse,

“Still breathing, you’re going to make it.” Tela then bursts from the doors with a team of healers shortly behind her. The group rushes up there and they check on C and Lexy first.

One of the medics with Lexy looked at her hands,

“magically inflicted burns starting from the fingers and ending at the forearm, first-degree burn. She'll be fine.”

He puts his hands above Lexy’s arms and a green magical glow from his palms, and within a few moments, the burns on Lexy’s arms disappear.

The medic with C frowned “she’s breathing but these wounds need immediate treatment and her magic is extremely depleted.”

He turned to the two other healers’ by her,

“get her to the medical bay and put them on an iv drip and a magic accelerant.”

The medic then turns to the other with Lexy,

“How are they?”

The other medic smiled,

“unconscious but fine.”

Varikin sighed letting the tension in his chest relax,

“good”

The medic frowned,

“Are you alright?”

Varikin nodded,

“I’m fine, that transformation just took a lot out of me.”

Phenic came up to him,

“Tell me, was it a success?”

Varikin nodded,

“yes it was but they knew, and the king was there. He and C fought. He was about to win when Lexy interfered and saved C. How? I’m not entirely sure. But she did. The soul stone is in her utility belt.”

Phenic nodded and walked over to the medic by Lexy who already pulled the white stone out of her belt. The medic handed it to Phenic. Phenic sighed,

“We are so lucky. Now the king has lost this destructive weapon.”

Varikin looked at her and tilted his head,

“Are we going to use it against him?”

Phenic shook her head,

“Oh no, we wanted it so we could destroy it. Souls should not be tampered with. No matter how good-willed. It shouldn’t be used.”

Varikin noded and transformed into his human form.

“I understand.”

He turned to the medic with Lexy,

“Can I take her to her room?”

The healer nodded,

“Yes, she will be fine. If she doesn’t wake up in the morning, then you should be concerned but for now, she will be fine.”

Varikin nodded and picked her up.

Phenic smiled,

“Tela and Reginal will take you two back in the morning, you chose a strong familiar didn’t your wolf.”

Varikin nodded,

“I chose her as my handler but only until she accepted it was it official, I am as much as her familiar as she is to me.”

Phenic noded,

“So you love her?”

Varikin frowned,

“No, not the love you’re thinking of. She is my best friend and I know now without a doubt she would die for me as I would for her.”

He said while he hugged Lexy

Phenic hummed,

“Ah, I see. Take care of her wolf, she's a good kid.”

Phenic then turns to Tela,

“Tela showed him to their apartment.”

Tela nodded and began leading Varikin,

“Follow me.”

When Varikin passed Phenic, he saw her smile and heard her say,

“good job both of you.” Varikin nodded and began following Tela back to the apartment.